Cyclone Fengal Updates: Heavy rains lash Chennai; schools shut, landfall likely tomorrow

GUWAHATI, Nov 29: As Tamil Nadu braces for Cyclone Fengal, Chennai and nearby districts are receiving heavy rainfall while other parts of the State are also expected to see some downpour in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram tomorrow, reports said, as a holiday was declared for schools in Chennai and Chengalpet districts today.

The India Meteorological Department said the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is “very likely” to cross the coast between Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Nov 30.

“The deep depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northeastwards with a speed of 9 kmph during the past six hours and lay centred at 11.30 pm of November 28 over the same region. It lay about 240 km northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 330 km east-southeast of Nagappattinam, 390 km east-southeast of Puducherry and 430 km southeast of Chennai,” the IMD stated on ‘X’.

Fishermen have been told not to venture out into the ocean as the cyclonic storm approaches.

Along with the Tamil Nadu government, the government of Puducherry has announced a holiday for all schools and colleges in the union territory on Nov 29 and 30 in the wake of the approaching cyclonic storm.

Officials also advised fishermen of Puducherry to not venture into the sea until Nov 31.